Papua – All levels of the security apparatus from joint personnel such as the TNI, Polri and BIN ensure the security and the current condition of the Susi Air airline pilot who became a hostage victim from KST Papua led by Egianus Kogoya. Even the security forces continued to carry out intensive monitoring.
In the latest report, it turns out that the current condition of the Pilot Captain named Philips Mark Mehrtens is still in good condition and he is still healthy even in the midst of the hostage-taking carried out by the separatist group on Cenderawasih Earth.
Even so, the condition or condition of the pilot and the New Zealand citizen cannot be said to be entirely good, because now he is experiencing boredom and also of course very stressed.
According to the results of the photos and videos circulating, the security forces then analyzed the current conditions experienced by the pilot. Regional Commander (Pangdam) XVII / Cenderawasih, Major General of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (Mayjen TNI), Izak Pangemanan explained that the pilot’s condition was indeed healthy, the clothes he was wearing looked changed and were still neat.
However, of course this then did not make all levels of the security forces relax their vigilance and guard and monitor KST Papua, because physically nothing happened to Pilot Susi Air’s condition, but psychologically it was evident that he was very tired, as seen from the way his eyes described this.
It should be noted that for more than 5 (five) months the separatist group led by Egianus Kogoya has taken the man from New Zealand as hostage, which is known to have been held since 7 February 2023.
On the other hand, the government of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) continues to intensify efforts for evacuation, rescue and release missions under the direct leadership of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi). He even gave very special attention to this incident and collaborated with many other parties such as the Nduga Regency Government (Pemkab) to religious leaders, community leaders, local traditional leaders and all levels of the security apparatus from joint personnel.
Of course, it cannot be denied that the presence of many parties who were invited to jointly release the Susi Air pilot is a concrete manifestation of how strong the government’s commitment is so that he can be released safely soon.
The special attention given by the Head of State in relation to this case certainly makes the government absolutely not going to remain silent and act passively. But until now, all parties involved in the pilot’s release mission are working very actively.
Although on the other hand, the government and the ranks of the security forces also have a commitment that they will continue to use an approach that upholds the principles of humanism, so that it will not be possible to approach militarily, but instead continue to open communication space with negotiations being carried out.
It was not half-hearted, even the seventh President of the Republic of Indonesia himself also emphasized that his party would not remain silent and the efforts that had been made had been maximal and optimal, in fact, anything would be done and done in the field in order to be able to free the pilot.
In the same vein, the Military Commander XVII / Cenderawasih, Maj. Gen. TNI Izak Pangemanan also ensured that his party did not add any personnel at all. This is to answer the concerns of the people and of course they really want negotiation efforts to be put forward so that the potential risk of physical contact and even shooting contact can be minimized as high as possible.
The ranks of the security apparatus did not increase the number of personnel at all, but they only replaced troops in the Nduga Regency area. Because indeed recently, the guard was carried out by soldiers belonging to Battalion 514, then replaced by soldiers from Battalion 211 and other Battalions.
There are many factors that the security forces continue to consider, therefore they then decide not to increase the number of personnel at all. One of the most important factors that must be maintained is so that there is no potential for firefights which of course will seriously threaten the safety of the civil society around the area.
Furthermore, there are other factors such as the location of the assignment and also many other aspects including the families of the TNI soldiers themselves. It will be very difficult if there are additional personnel, because later, inevitably, they have to serve in Papua until the end of their career.
Certainty has been confirmed by the security forces that they will absolutely not increase the number of personnel. They also confirmed the latest conditions being experienced by Pilot Susi Air as a hostage victim from KST Papua, which turned out to be in good health. Very intensive monitoring efforts are also being carried out.
